Big 12 commissioner tries to clarify situation on legal claims

Big 12 commissioner Dan Beebe didn’t name names. But it’s clear that he is not objecting to Baylor’s apparent attempts to throw a wrench into plans by Texas A&M to flee to the Southeastern Conference.

Beebe released a statement Wednesday trying to clarify his position on a controversy stemming from the SEC’s invitation to A&M to become the conference’s 13th member.

Before the SEC extended the invitation, it asked for and received from the Big 12 a waiver of legal claims.

At least one SEC university president now says that Baylor is threatening legal action. The activity held up, at least for the time being, A&M’s acceptance of the invitation.

Asked for an official comment Wednesday afternoon, a Baylor spokesman said a statement would be forthcoming. Later, Baylor sent out a statement quoting Beebe:

“This is the first time to my knowledge that a conference has been requested to waive any legal claims toward another conference for any damages suffered with a membership change,” Beebe said in the statement that was also posted on the conference’s website.

“The Big 12 Conference was asked by Texas A&M University and the Southeastern Conference to waive any such claim to help facilitate Texas A&M’s departure from the Conference without any consideration to the Big 12,” the statement said.

Continued Beebe: “Although they were not obligated to do so, the Big 12 Board of Directors decided to accommodate that request as it relates to The Big 12 Conference, Inc., which is reflected in the September 2 letter sent to SEC commissioner Mike Slive.”

Beebe then explained why he has no apparent quarrel with any in “individual” institution for threatening legal action.

“The waiver did not and could not bind the individual member institutions’ governing boards to waive institutional rights,” he said. “If the departure of Texas A&M results in significant changes in the Big 12 membership, several institutions may be severely affected after counting on revenue streams from contracts that were approved unanimously by our members, including Texas A&M.

“In some cases, members reasonably relied on such approval to embark on obligations that will cost millions of dollars.”